A feisty defenceman who's play and ability to move the puck up ice was a valuable asset in junior and the minors. Dale Purinton was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and excelled with the BCJHL's Vernon Lakers before suiting up for three different WHL teams.

Taken 117th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Purinton helped the Lethbridge Hurricanes reach the Memorial Cup final in 1997 before making his professional debut with the ECHL's Charlotte Checkers the following year.

Purinton worked diligently on his game with Charlotte and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack for three seasons capturing a Calder Cup in 2000 before dressing for 42 games with the big club in 2000-01. Purinton's hard nosed play has seen him earn a regular spot on the Ranger blueline while establishing career highs in goals (3), assists (9) and points (12) in 2002-03. The following season he played in 40 games with the Rangers and was a healthy reserve on many nights. During the NHL lockout, Purinton competed with the ECHL's Victora Salmon Kings.

When the league returned, he was sent to the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford but missed the majority of his 2006-07 season due to a pair of injuries.

In the summer of 2007, Purinton signed as a free agent with the Colorado Avalanche.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1992-93

Moose Jaw Midget Warriors

SMHL

34

1

16

17

107

1992-93

Moose Jaw Warriors

WHL

2

0

0

0

2

1993-94

Vernon Vipers

BCJHL

42

1

6

7

194

1994-95

Tacoma Rockets

WHL

65

0

8

8

291

3

0

0

0

13

1995-96

Kelowna Rockets

WHL

22

1

4

5

88

1995-96

Lethbridge Hurricanes

WHL

37

3

6

9

144

4

1

1

2

25

1996-97

Lethbridge Hurricanes

WHL

51

6

26

32

254

18

3

5

8

88

1996-97

Lethbridge Hurricanes

M-Cup

5

0

0

0

43

1997-98

Hartford Wolf Pack

AHL

17

0

0

0

95

0

1997-98

Charlotte Checkers

ECHL

34

3

5

8

186

+6

1998-99

Hartford Wolf Pack

AHL

45

1

3

4

306

+5

7

0

2

2

24

1999-00

New York Rangers

NHL

1

0

0

0

7

-1

1999-00

Hartford Wolf Pack

AHL

62

4

4

8

415

+21

23

0

3

3

87

2000-01

New York Rangers

NHL

42

0

2

2

180

+5

2000-01

Hartford Wolf Pack

AHL

11

0

1

1

75

+5

2001-02

New York Rangers

NHL

40

0

4

4

113

+4

2002-03

New York Rangers

NHL

58

3

9

12

161

-2

2003-04

New York Rangers

NHL

40

1

1

2

117

-9

2004-05

Victoria Salmon Kings

ECHL

25

3

9

12

192

-4

2005-06

Hartford Wolf Pack

AHL

25

3

3

6

109

-1

10

0

2

2

45

2006-07

Hartford Wolf Pack

AHL

55

3

7

10

240

+8

5

0

1

1

29

2007-08

Lake Erie Monsters

AHL

35

0

4

4

193

0

NHL Totals

181

4

16

20

578

Missed majority of 2003-04 as a healthy reserve. Signed as a free agent by Victoria (ECHL), December 3, 2004. Missed majority of 2005-06 due to knee (November 6, 2005 at Springfield - AHL) and finger (January 3, 2006 in practice) injuries. Signed as a free agent by Colorado, July 17, 2007.